Tech Trends

Reviews

A Brighter, Glare Free Laptop Display

"For those of you who are not quite ready to part with your
classic G3 FireWire PowerBooks,
a.k.a. Pismos, there's now yet another reason (or good excuse)
to hang on to them, along with some other vintage PowerBooks, at
least for a while longer.

"If you've noticed lately (and even if you haven't) that your
display isn't as bright as it once was - at five years old,
depending on use and excluding the usual exceptions, it's somewhere
between 10% to 30% dimmer than when new-then it's time to replace
its backlight with a new one.

"A new backlight with installation from IDParts, Inc. will cost
you $120. While that will certainly put the old shine back on the
screen, along with a smile on your face, by itself it's not going
to provide you with the kind of brightness that you can obtain from
a new PowerBook. But now thanks to the skilled and innovative
technicians at http://www.idparts.com/ you needn't suffer the pangs
of brightness envy any longer.

"Currently for a total cash outlay of $345 (not including
shipping charges) you can not only have a brand new backlight
installed in your Pismo, bringing it back up to specs, but you can
also take advantage of the newest display technology, a remarkable
BEF & AR/AG film combo upgrade (more on the meaning of that
shortly) that will provide it with a stunning increase in
brightness along with a reduction in reflectivity and glare."

Tips

How to Use Novatel V620 for Wireless
Broadband

"EVDO
is hot! Apple provided support for the PC 5220 EVDO card, however,
Verizon is only pushing the Novatel V620 these days and the PC 5220
isn't available. This article will describe how to get the Novatel
V620 to work with your PowerBook.

"These are instructions are for advanced users who know what
they are doing only! These directions work under Mac OS 10.3.5 -
10.3.8, we will have more information after Mac OS X 10.4
ships...

"For users not comfortable following these technical steps, we
will be building a Mac OS X installer that performs these
steps for you. It should be available next week. We can also
remotely perform these steps, if your PowerBook has a fixed IP and
is accessible over the Internet, contact us for more info."

New Products

Seagate Momentus 120 GB: Highest Capacity
Notebook Drive

PR:Seagate
Technology is expanding its line of notebook hard drives
with the industry's highest capacity and performance for
applications ranging from high-performance mobile workstations to
mainstream laptop computers. Combining a wide range of spin speeds
and capacities up to 120 GB, the 2.5" Momentus family delivers
ruggedness, power-thrifty design and whisper-quiet operation.

Highlighting Seagate's notebook product line are 7,200- and
5,400-rpm models that provide the highest capacities available -
100 GB and 120 GB, respectively - to help meet growing demand among
mobile users for notebook computers with greater performance and
storage capacity.

"People on-the-go need notebook computers that deliver desktop
PC performance yet can withstand the rigors of travel and extend
battery life," said Jeff Loebbaka, Seagate vice president of Global
Marketing. "Others are willing to settle for lower performance and
capacity in exchange for lower cost. Seagate is meeting all these
needs with a family of Momentus drives that combine the widest
range of spin speeds and capacities with the highest levels of
reliability and power efficiency."

"As notebook PCs displace desktop PCs in the workplace, end
users increasingly will demand desktop PC capabilities in
notebooks," said John Buttress, IDC's research manager for hard
drives. "Currently, the market for 7,200-rpm notebook drives is a
niche market, but it is growing, and the market for 5,400-rpm
drives already is growing rapidly. The market opportunities for
these high-performance drives in notebook PCs also include
requirements for higher capacities. Companies like Seagate that
combine these capabilities with lower acoustic and power
consumption levels will be well positioned in these growing
segments to gain market share in the future."

Not just for notebooks, Momentus features a tough design that
also makes the drives ideal for CE devices, printers, copiers,
non-mission critical blade servers, external storage arrays and
other environments where systems are jostled or subject to high
levels of vibration. Momentus drives can withstand up to 900 Gs of
nonoperating shock and 250 Gs of operating shock to safeguard drive
data. Momentus hard drives are also highly power efficient,
allowing notebook users to work longer between battery recharges,
and are virtually inaudible to users thanks to Seagate SoftSonic
fluid-dynamic bearing motors.

Momentus 5400.2 - Available in capacities up to 120 GB,
Momentus 5400.2 brings 4,500-rpm power efficiency to 5,400-rpm
drives. The drive's high performance, low power consumption and
robust design make it ideal for mainstream notebooks and tablet
PCs. The hard drive also is a good fit for industrial applications
such as printers and copiers.

Seagate offers Serial ATA as an option for Momentus 5400.2 and
Momentus 7200.1 drives to deliver fast 1.5 GB/sec interface speed
and NCQ (Native Command Queuing), making the drives a great fit for
high-performance notebook PCs.

Momentus 4200.2 - Offered in capacities up to 120 GB, this
drive is ideal for low-cost notebooks and external storage.

First iBook G3 Slot-loading SuperDrive
Upgrade

PR: MCE Technologies brings you the world's first
slot-loading
optical drive upgrade designed for the tray-loading white
iBook G3. Simple, inexpensive, and elegant - like your iBook.
Priced at $199.

Is your iBook G3 tray-loading drive on its last legs or no
longer offers you the performance or capabilities you want in order
to take full advantage of your digital lifestyle? Look no further -
MCE Technologies has made its highest performing slot-loading CD
and DVD burning drive available for the iBook G3.

Replacing your iBook G3's original tray-loading drive, the MCE
slot-loading drive allows you to watch DVD movies, play audio CDs,
as well as burn blank CDs and blank DVDs at the highest speeds
possible. Compatible with iTunes and recording at 24x to both CD-R
and CD-RW media and at 8x to both DVD-R and DVD+R media the MCE 8x
Internal SuperDrive upgrade actually brings the iBook G3 on par
with even the fastest drives Apple offers for their Power Mac G5
towers - even more amazing is that the MCE 8x SuperDrive upgrade
has Double Layer support which means you now have the ability to
record up to 8.5 GB of data on a single side of a Double Layer
DVD.

[Editor's note: this could also be a solution to installing OS X
10.4 Tiger on iBooks that can't currently read DVDs, since Tiger
ships on DVD media.]

The additional storage capacity of the DVD+R Double Layer disc
enables you to record up to 4 hours of DVD-quality video or 16
hours of VHS-quality video, without the need to turn over the disc.
You can now archive up to 8.5 GB of computer files on a single
disc, which almost doubles the storage capacity compared with the
4.7 GB for the single-layer DVD-recordable discs currently
available.

The Double Layer DVD+R system uses two thin embedded organic dye
films for data storage separated by a spacer layer. Heating with a
focused laser beam irreversibly modifies the physical and chemical
structure of each layer such that the modified areas have different
optical properties to those of their unmodified surroundings. This
causes a variation in reflectivity as the disc rotates to provide a
read-out signal as with commercially pressed read-only discs. Did
you get all that?? It just means that there are two recording
layers inside the DVD instead of just one... two layers means twice
the recording capacity! Now wasn't that easier?

Not every disc is created equal. The MCE 8x SuperDrive Upgrade
for iBook G3 implements an onboard liquid crystal tilt/thickness
compensator... the first time ever in a portable form factor. This
cutting edge technology provides accurate, reliable read and write
performance with a variety of disc characteristics, even with
irregularly curved or thick / thin media. This technology is also
effective in recording DVD+R double layer media.

The MCE 8x Internal SuperDrive Upgrade must be installed either
by MCE Technologies or one of it worldwide Authorized Upgrade
Centers. MCE Technologies charges a $39 installation fee which
includes two-day return shipping.

PowerBook Pismo G4/550 MHz Upgrade

With the 1 MB L2 cache level at 250 MHz, the performance
surpasses all of the early titanium G4s, and with this low-power
consumption design, you'll see longer battery life, more
horsepower, and a cooler running processor than you have ever had
before.

Kinesis NoteStand Laptop Stand

PR: The Kinesis
NoteStand, a Dutch ergonomic design by Wolf C, made from
ultra thin & lightweight hi-tech composite aluminum, provides
an elegant, sturdy, yet incredibly lightweight adjustable support
for your laptop computer. The NoteStand positions your laptop
screen closer and at eye level, improving visibility and reducing
the hunched posture usually created with notebook computers. The
NoteStand is also great for keeping your laptop cool.

Kinesis NoteStand Applications:

Use it at home, in the office, or while you travel. The
NoteStand instantly folds-up into a lightweight and ultra thin
shape - storing conveniently in your briefcase.

The NoteStand is an attractive alternative to clunky and heavy
plastic notebook risers.

For office use, connect your regular full size (preferably
ergonomic) keyboard and mouse to improve comfort and productivity.
When working away from the office, use compact ergonomic input
devices such as the Kinesis MiniType keyboard and a compact
wireless mouse available from Kinesis.

Kinesis NoteStand Features:

Made from a high-tech composite of aluminum sandwiched around a
flexible plastic film which creates a sturdy, lightweight and
aesthetic design

8 height adjustments - from 25° to 35° elevation angle
for the notebook computer (screen elevation from 5.1" to 7.2")

Kinesis Xbrand Lap Desk

Improve your comfort and productivity by using an
external mouse when using your laptop in your lap. Using an
external mouse instead of the integrated mousing feature on your
laptop promotes neutral wrist postures. This can help reduce the
wrist strain commonly associated with laptop computer use. The lap
desk insulates your legs and clothing from annoying and
uncomfortable laptop heat.

Weight 17 oz

Dimensions in inches 14" (w) x 10 3/4" (d) x 1/2" (h)

Warranty 1 year

Physical Laptop Compatibility Universal

Mouse Pad Retractable

Cooling Promotes convection cooling to improve laptop battery
life and system longevity

Laptop Lap Desk sells for $34.99

Tiger Lapthong Designer PowerBook Cover

PR: A Lapthong
is a designer cover that protects your laptop from dust and
scratches. Of course, it adds a sense of style to your
PowerBook.

These laptop covers go
on the top of your laptop.

It can stay on your laptop even when it is turned on - a great
way to stylishly protect the top of your laptop from dust and
scratches.

Special Tiger Release Version

Protects the top of your laptop from scratches

Protects front of laptop from dust

Available for PowerBooks of all sizes

Unique style

Serves as a conversation starter

Celebrates Tiger OS release

Petting the Tiger cover helps relieve stress

The tiger cover looks great and feels great. You'll want to pet
the cover every chance you get.

RadTech tekmõd Soft Notebook Case

PR: Designed for any way you work - sleek, internally
armored soft case functions as a top-loader or in unique stay-on
mode, the svelte tekmõd
features the protection of a bulky bag, with the portability and
versatility of a slim brief.

tekmõd's unique stay-on configuration allows you to work
right out of the case with unrestricted port, slot, drive and
storage pocket access!

A convenient flip-out stand provides the perfect degree of
notebook inclination for ergonomic keyboarding, and an internal
suspension system cradles and lifts the rear of the notebook to
allow ample ventilation and air circulation to ensure cool running.
tekmõd's expanding pockets and pouches completely flatten
when empty, yet expand to accommodate your ancillary gear,
documents, wallet and keys.

Work anywhere with lightweight style and timesaving confidence -
tekmõd was voted an "Editor's Choice" and received the
highest rating in Laptop Magazine's roundup of the best notebook
cases. Experience the joy of getting down to business quickly
without fumbling with your bag, and doing it in tekmõd's
full-protective style!

IDParts Notebook Computer LCD Displays

iSweet FireWire Webcam

PR: The iSweet is
designed specifically for Mac laptop users and includes two cases,
FireWire cable and additional connectors.

High Quality: Image
quality of a webcam is affected by many factors; the two most
common issues associated with poor imaging are what inspired the
manufacturers to design a webcam that succeeds where others fail:
throughput and imaging.

The iSweet features a SONY 1/4" Color CCD and is connected via a
FireWire connection, allowing significantly higher transfer rates -
and for anyone with a good connection to receive a great video
feed.

High Speed: Unlike USB connections, the maximum transfer rate of
the iSweet is 400 Mbps. Forget about time lapse photography; with
the iSweet your image won't miss a beat.

Great Design: All components of the iSweet are designed for use.
The size of the iSweet lets you take it anywhere. The included hard
and soft cases let you decide how far the trip might take you.

Easy to Use: Plug and Play simplicity gets PowerBook and iBook
users going right out of the box.

iSweet FireWire Web Camera sells for $129.

Tech Trends

Tablet PC: The Next Generation?

"First it was the slate. Then it was the PC-Tablet convertible.
Now it's a mini-Tablet that can do everything that a traditional
Tablet PC can do, plus store electronic books, that could end up as
the new gadget on which Microsoft is betting to further Tablet PC
momentum.

A prototype of a new device - described by sources as a type of
hybrid Tablet PC/eBook - has been making its way around the
Microsoft Redmond campus, according to sources. The mini-Tablet,
which measures about six inches by eight inches and features a
digitizer, is just one of a number of new Tablet form factors
expected to debut in the coming months."

Bargain 'Books

Bargain 'Books are used unless otherwise indicated. New and
refurbished units have a one-year Apple warranty and are eligible
for AppleCare.

There are two different versions of WallStreet running at 233
MHz, the cacheless MainStreet version and the later
Series II with a level 2
cache. It's not always possible to determine from the vendor's
listing which is being offered, so we've included links within this
paragraph to the two models. The same goes for the PowerBook G4/667 (VGA) and G4/667 (DVI), the titanium vs. aluminum
15" PowerBook G4 at 1 GHz, and 1.25 GHz to 1.5 GHz 15"
PowerBooks.